Posen zoning to hold hearing for Family Dollar

December 5, 2012

POSEN - The Posen Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Dec. 18 on a variance request for a new Family Dollar store.

The regional retail chain is looking to build on two parcels on Michigan Avenue, one occupied by the now-vacant Posen Pub and another by a rental home, zoning Administrator Jim Zakshesky said. As the roughly 8,000-square-foot building would come within five feet of the rear property line, they will need a zoning variance to do so.

The area is zoned as community commercial, which has a setback requirement of 20 feet, according to a public notice about the hearing. The hearing itself is set for 7 p.m. at the Posen Village Hall, 7103 E. State Street.

Anyone interested in seeing the proposal can call Zakshesky at 766-8237 to make an appointment.

As of Wednesday, no sales of the parcels involved have been recorded with the county Register of Deeds, Chief Deputy Register Barbara Oswalt said. She added the sales are likely in the works.

Family Dollar sells a wide cross-section of items, including clothing, household items and some food, according to its website. The stores typically serve low to middle income customers, and the company looks for trade areas with a minimum of 8,000 people. In rural towns, these trade areas fall within a 10-mile radius.

Randy Idalski, chamber of commerce president, said he's glad to hear about a new business looking to come to the village.

"I think it's fantastic," he said. "We don't get a lot of opportunities here for bigger business. It would just be great if they moved into Posen and created some jobs for local people here."

While he's glad to hear about prospects for new development, Idalski has mixed feelings about Posen Pub being torn down.

"It's been a business here in Posen for a long time," he said. "But it's also been closed now for a few years. If the opportunity is there for someone else ... to do something there to make a business, it is bittersweet, but let's move forward with it."

Adam Ledbetter of Burkhardt Engineering is handling the design and engineering for the proposal, he said. The Ohio-based firm is willing to listen to what the public has to say about the project. Although he can't make it to the public hearing, the company can take comments by phone at 937-388-0600.

"We have an interest in the public, and an interest in providing a good place for them to come and shop," he said.

Burkhardt Engineering has handled projects for Family Dollar in multiple states before, Ledbetter said, and the company's website features other retail projects as well.